METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPONENTS BY SELECTIVE SOLIDIFICATION

Abstract

The disclosure relates to methods and devices for producing three-dimensional components by selective solidification from build material applied in layered fashion by providing a building cylinder in which substrate plates are stacked one above the other, applying the build material to the uppermost substrate plate with an application device, generating at least one beam and directing the beam onto the applied layer of the build material, moving the application device along a working plane at least along the building cylinder and at least one collecting chamber for non-solidified build material, and moving the substrate plate out in relation to the building cylinder such that a bottom of the substrate plate lies in the working plane, wherein the substrate plate which has been moved out of the building cylinder is transferred by the application device from the building cylinder into the adjacent collecting chamber.

Claims

1. A method for producing three-dimensional components by selective solidification from build material applied in layered fashion, the method comprising providing, in a process chamber, a building cylinder in which one or more substrate plates are stacked so as to lie one above the other; applying the build material in a layer to the uppermost substrate plate in the process chamber by an application device; generating at least one beam with a beam source and directing the beam with at least one beam-guiding element onto the applied layer of the build material to solidify the build material; moving the application device along a working plane within the process chamber at least along the building cylinder and at least one collecting chamber, arranged adjacent thereto, for non-solidified build material; and moving the substrate plate out in relation to the building cylinder such that a bottom side of the substrate plate lies in the working plane, wherein the substrate plate which is moved out of the building cylinder and has at least one component situated thereon is transferred by the application device from the building cylinder into the adjacent collecting chamber or into a magazine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the substrate plate out occurs after the completion of the at least one component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the application device is driven with a force that is higher than a holding force of a releasable holding device between two substrate plates stacked one above the other in the building cylinder.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, on the application device, there is provided at least one guide element that engages the substrate plate, and the substrate plate is guided along the movement direction of the application device by the at least one guide element.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one support element is built onto the substrate plate adjacent to the at least one component built thereon, wherein the at least one support element has a height at least as tall as a tallest component, such that the substrate plates transferred into the collecting chamber are stacked so as to lie one above the other by means of the support element or elements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, before the transfer of the substrate plate with the at least one completed three-dimensional component into a magazine, traverse elements are positioned in the collecting chamber.

7. A device for producing three-dimensional components by selective solidification from build material applied in layered fashion, the device comprising: a process chamber; a building cylinder assigned to a working plane in the process chamber and in which one or more substrate plates are movable relative to the working plane; an application device, arranged to move along the working plane and apply build material to the substrate plate in the building cylinder and transfers non-solidified build material into at least one collecting chamber arranged adjacent thereto; and a beam source that generates a beam directed by at least one beam-guiding element onto the applied layer, wherein the substrate plate is arranged to move after the completion of at least one component thereon, relative to the building cylinder such that a bottom side of the uppermost substrate plate lies in the working plane, and wherein the application device can be controlled to transport the uppermost substrate plate out of the building cylinder and into the collecting chamber or into a magazine.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the application device has at least one guide element by which the substrate plate is guided along the working plane during the transport movement.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one guide element is formed by two mutually spaced-apart projections or by a stop with a concave depression.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one guide element comprises an elastic material.

11. The device of claim 7, further comprising a releasable holding device provided between two substrate plates.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the releasable holding device comprises a zero-point clamping system or multiple projections on one face side of the substrate plate and corresponding depressions on the oppositely situated substrate plate.

13. The device of claim 7, further comprising traverse elements inserted into the collecting chamber.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the traverse elements are rod-like traverse elements.

15. The device of claim 7, further comprising an introduction device arranged in an opening situated in the working plane of the collecting chamber.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the introduction device comprises guide arms that extend partially along the opening of the collecting chamber, wherein the guide arms comprise, in the introduction region to the opening of the collecting chamber, bearing surfaces that receive the substrate plate above the opening.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the guide arms comprise spreading sections arranged to follow the bearing surfaces in the movement direction of the application device, wherein the spreading sections can, as a result of a movement of the substrate plate, be spread apart such that the substrate plate is released from the bearing surfaces and falls into the collecting chamber.

18. The device of claim 7, further comprising an impact damping device inserted into the collecting chamber or provided on a lateral surface of the collecting chamber.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the impact damping device has, along the height of the collecting chamber, multiple damping elements arranged to brake a falling movement of the substrate plate into the collecting chamber.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a device for producing three-dimensional components.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a first step for transporting away a substrate plate with finished components.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a further working step for transporting away the substrate plate with finished components.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of two substrate plates stacked one above the other with a releasable holding device.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a building cylinder with multiple substrate plates during the production of at least one component.

[0027] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a substrate plate with at least one component and built support elements.

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the application device with a guide element.

[0029] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the application device with an alternative guide element in relation to FIG. 7.

[0030] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an introduction device for transferring the substrate plate from a working plane into a collecting chamber.

[0031] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an impact damper for the substrate plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic side view of a device 11 for producing components 12 by selective solidification of a build material applied in layered fashion. Similar devices are also referred to as 3D printing systems, selective laser sintering machines, selective laser melting machines, or the like. Device 11 comprises a housing 14, in which a process chamber 16 is provided. Process chamber 16 is closed to the outside and may be accessible, for example, via a door (not illustrated in any more detail) or via a safety closure. In the process chamber 16, a building cylinder 22 is assigned to a working plane 20. In the building cylinder 22, there are provided multiple substrate plates 17, 41 which are stacked one above the other. The substrate plates 17, 41 can be moved in a Z direction relative to the working plane 20.

[0033] Provided adjacent to the building cylinder 22 are, for example, one or two collecting chambers 19, in which non-required or non-solidified build material is collected. Alternatively, provision may be made for a storage container 21 for receiving and dispensing build material 23 to be provided on one side of the building cylinder 22. The build material is fed from the storage container 21 to the building cylinder 22 by means of an application device 30. The application device includes a mount (e.g., fastener, bracket) spanning across the width of the building cylinder onto which a blade, wiper, or cylinder is attached. The blade or wiper could be, for example, clamped in, to, or onto, the mount, screwed to the mount, or held by a cavity with a complementary form and positively-locked in place (e.g., if the blade or wiper is Y- or X-shaped). The cylinder is held rotatable around an axis, e.g., attached to a drive for rotating the cylinder to grind parts of a component protruding from the powder bed. The application device 30 further can have a brush strip, a scraper, or the like to transfer non-required or non-solidified build material into the collecting chamber 19. Alternatively, provision may be made for collecting chambers 19 to be provided on both sides of the building cylinder 22, and for the build material 23 to be dispensed directly onto the substrate plate 17 by the application device 30 from above.

[0034] The build material can be composed of a metal or a ceramic powder. Other materials suitable for laser melting or laser sintering may also be used.

[0035] A beam source 15, for example a laser source, is provided on the housing 14 above the building cylinder 22. The beam source 15 emits a beam 25, which is diverted by means of at least one beam-guiding element 18 onto the working plane 20, e.g., onto the substrate plate 17.

[0036] The beam-guiding element 18 may comprise at least one actuatable mirror, e.g., in the form of a scanner. It is additionally also possible for further optical elements to be provided for focusing the beam.

[0037] The process chamber 16 is hermetically sealed off. For the production of the three-dimensional component 12, the process chamber is filled with shielding gas or an inert gas to prevent oxidation during the melting of the build material.

[0038] A shielding gas system 31 is provided for the feed and discharge of the shielding gas. The shielding gas system has at least one inflow nozzle 33 and one outflow nozzle 34 in the housing 14.

[0039] After the production of the three-dimensional component 12, the application device 30 is positioned in a position adjacent to the building cylinder 22. The uppermost substrate plate 17 in the building cylinder 22 is subsequently moved in the Z direction such that a bottom side of the uppermost substrate plate 17 lies in the working plane 20. FIG. 2 illustrates such a position of the uppermost substrate plate 17 with respect to the working plane 20 before the commencement of a transporting-away movement. Proceeding from here, a movement of the application device 30 is actuated, the application device being moved in the X direction. A face side of the application device 30 engages on the substrate plate 17. Through the further actuation of the movement of the application device 30 in the X direction, the holding device 42 between the uppermost substrate plate 17 and the substrate plate 41 situated underneath is released. A movement of the substrate plate 17 in the X direction is initiated. The substrate plate 17 is moved by the application device 30 into the collecting chambers 19.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a further working step for the transporting-away of the uppermost substrate plate 17 with, initially, a finished component 12 situated thereon. Here, the application device 30 has been moved such that the substrate plate 17 with the at least one finished component 12 has been transferred into the collecting chambers 19. The application device 30 is subsequently moved in the opposite direction. The substrate plate 41 closest to the working plane 20 is made available for the next process of producing at least one three-dimensional component 12. The application device 30 is subsequently moved in the X direction to apply build material to the substrate plate 41. Subsequently, the application device 30 can push the excess build material that remains on the substrate plate 41 into the collecting chambers 19. Successive production of three-dimensional components 12 on the substrate plates 17, 41 can thus be performed without any downtime of the device 11.

[0041] As an alternative to the transfer of the substrate plate 17 with the finished components 12 situated thereon into the collecting chambers 19, provision may be made for the substrate plate 17 to be transferred into a magazine (not illustrated in any more detail). Such a magazine may be configured as a sliding magazine, rotary magazine or a paternoster. Such a magazine is positioned in the movement direction, i.e., in the X direction, of the application device 30. The magazine may, as viewed in the X direction, be provided adjacent to the collecting chamber 19, e.g., to the right of the collecting chamber 19. For the traversing of the collecting chambers 19, traverse elements can be inserted into the collecting chambers 19 such that the substrate plate 17, 41 can be transferred into the adjacent magazine. Such traverse elements may be configured as round bars.

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic sectional view of two substrate plates 17, 41 situated one above the other. These are connected to one another by means of a releasable holding device 42. The releasable holding device 42 serves for securing the two substrate plates 17, 41 against rotation and/or a displacement movement with low forces. The lowermost of the stacked substrate plates 17, 41 in the building cylinder is, analogously to a releasable holding device 42, fixed to a building platform on which a lifting cylinder for the upward and downward movement of the building platform in the building cylinder 22 is actuated.

[0043] According to a first embodiment, the releasable holding device 42 may be configured as a projection 45, composed, e.g., of balls or pins that protrude relative to a bottom side of the substrate plate 17 and that engage into a corresponding depression 46 on the oppositely situated substrate plate 41. It is also possible for the arrangement to be interchanged. By means of this arrangement, a relative rotation of the substrate plates 17, 41 with respect to one another can be prevented. Furthermore, easy displacement of the substrate plates 17, 41 relative to one another can be prevented. A release force can be set in a manner dependent on the inter-engagement of the elements of the releasable holding device 42. This, too, can be dependent on the respective geometry of the projection 45 and/or of the depression 46.

[0044] It is alternatively also possible for spring-loaded ball pins, or spring-mounted balls, to be provided. The releasable holding device 42 can also be configured as a zero-point band system.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the building cylinder 22 with multiple substrate plates 17, 41 stacked on a building platform 24. The building platform 24 is movable upward and downward by means of a working cylinder (not illustrated in any more detail) within the building cylinder 22.

[0046] The substrate plates 17, 41 are configured to be of smaller diameter than a lateral surface of the building cylinder 22. The build material 23 can pass into an intermediate space between the substrate plates 17, 41 and the lateral surface of the building cylinder 22. In this way, the substrate plates 17, 41 can be additionally secured against displacement relative to one another within the building cylinder 22.

[0047] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a substrate plate 17, 41 with at least one component 12 built thereon, in the case of which additionally at least one support element 48 is provided. The support element 48 is of equal height to, or, for example, taller than, the tallest component 12 built on the substrate plate 17, 41. It is possible for multiple support elements 48 to be provided. These may be formed in the manner of pillars or, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 6, as wall elements. The support elements 48 have a protective function. During the transfer of the substrate plate 17, 41 from the building cylinder 22 into the collecting chamber 19, the substrate plates 17, 41 are stacked one above the other. The at least one support element 48 holds the substrate plate 17, 41 situated thereabove spaced apart from the substrate plate 17, 41 which is situated therebeneath and on which the at least one support element 48 is built, such that the components 12 built on the latter substrate plate are not damaged. In some implementations, the support element 48 could be built during the production of the component 12.

[0048] The support elements 48 can be of segment-shaped form as outer protective walls.

[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the application device 30. At least one guide element 51 is provided on one face side of the application device 30. The guide element 51 engages on the substrate plate 17, 41 outside a central axis and allows a rectilinear displacement movement along the X axis. In this way, the substrate plate 17, 41 can be transferred in a secured manner into the collecting chambers 19 or the magazine (for example, as per FIG. 2). In the illustrated embodiment, projections are provided as guide elements 51. The projections can be formed from an elastic material, such that they additionally serve as a type of buffer element.

[0050] FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the at least one guide element 51. Guide element 51 may, for example, have a concave depression to engage on an outer circumference of the substrate plate 17, 41.

[0051] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of an opening 27, which lies in the working plane 20, of the collecting chamber 19. The opening 27 of the collecting chamber 19 is assigned an introduction device 55. The introduction device 55 comprises two guide arms 56, which extend counter to the movement direction by means of which the substrate plate 17, 41 is moved from the building cylinder 22 into the collecting chamber 19. The guide arms 56 have, in the introduction region of the introduction device 55, bearing surfaces 57 which are directed toward one another. In the introduction region of the introduction device 55, the guide arms 56 are spaced apart from one another such that a substrate plate 17, 41 is movable between the guide arms 56, or the guide arms 56 are spread apart by the substrate plate 17, 41. During the transfer of the substrate plate 17, 41 into the introduction device, the bearing surfaces 57 engage under the substrate plate 17, 41 such that the substrate plate can be positioned in a horizontally oriented manner above the opening 27. The guide arms 56 bear with a low load against an outer circumference of the substrate plate 17. Shortly before the substrate plate 17, 41 is positioned entirely over the opening 27 of the collecting chamber 19, spreading sections 59 on the guide arms 56 are actuated by an outer circumference of the substrate plate 17, 41. The guide arms 56 are spread apart. The bearing surfaces 57 of the guide arms 56 release the substrate plate 17, 41. The substrate plate 17, 41 with the at least one component 12 falls into the collecting chamber 19.

[0052] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of an impact damping device 61, which is provided for damping the falling movement of the substrate plate 17, 41. Impact damping device 61 can be insertable into the collecting chamber 19. Impact damping device 61 can have a base from which struts or rails 63 extend in a vertical direction. Along rails 63, there are formed multiple damping elements 64, for example in the form of lugs, which protrude into the interior space of the collecting chamber 19. The damping elements 64 and multiple rails 63 can be aligned at the same height as one another. In this way, the substrate plate 17, 41 can fall downward in a horizontal orientation within the collecting chamber 19.

[0053] In other embodiments, the impact damping device 61 can alternatively be integrated into or fastened to a peripheral wall of the collecting chamber 19.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0054] A number of embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.